System for and method of controlling watercraft

A system for controlling a watercraft comprising:

• a joystick unit comprising a joystick configured to be tiltable in a plurality of directions, wherein the joystick unit configured to output joystick position signals responsive to tilting of the joystick in the plurality of directions, wherein the joystick position signals configured to control movement of the watercraft;
• and
• a controller communicating with the joystick unit to receive at least the outputted joystick position signals from the joystick unit, wherein the controller is configured to provide control instructions to control a magnitude and a direction of a thrust generated by each of a first propulsion component and a second propulsion component based on a selected operating mode, wherein the first and second propulsion components are independently operable and wherein the selected operating mode corresponds to at least one of a first operating mode corresponding solely to operation of the first propulsion unit responsive to the joystick position signals from the joystick unit and a second operating mode corresponding solely to operation the second propulsion unit responsive to the joystick position signals from the joystick unit;
• wherein:
• the controller selectably provides control instructions to at least one of the first and second propulsion component responsive to receipt of joystick position signals from the joystick unit based on a specified control mode;
• operation of a combination the first and second propulsion component responsive to the joystick position signals from the joystick unit corresponds to a third operating mode,
• wherein in the third operating mode, the control instructions provided to the first and second propulsion component are associated with individual output ratios relative to a maximum output of each propulsion unit, wherein an output ratio associated with the first propulsion unit is lower than an output ratio associated with the second propulsion unit;
• the first propulsion component comprises an internal combustion engine;
• and
• the second propulsion component comprises an electric motor.

A method for controlling a watercraft comprising:

• obtaining joystick position signals responsive to tilting of a joystick unit comprising a joystick configured to be tiltable in a plurality of directions, wherein the joystick unit is configured to output the joystick position signals responsive to tilting of the joystick in the plurality of directions;
• transmitting the joystick position signals from the joystick to a controller;
• receiving the joystick position signals at the controller from the joystick unit;
• and
• providing control instructions for controlling a magnitude and a direction of a thrust generated by a left peripheral electric motor on a port side of the watercraft, a right peripheral electric motor on a starboard side of the watercraft, and at least one central motor comprising an internal combustion engine, wherein the control instructions are provided from the controller to at least one of the left peripheral electric motor, the right peripheral electric motor, and the at least one central motor based on a specified control mode, wherein the joystick position signals are transmitted independent of the specified control mode;
• wherein:
• the controller selectably provides the control instructions to at least one of the left peripheral electric motor, the right peripheral electric motor, and the at least one central motor based on a specified control mode;
• and
• the controller is selectable to provide the control instructions to the at least one central motor and the left and right peripheral electric motors based on a third control mode,
• wherein in the third control mode, the at least one central motor and the left and right peripheral electric motors are associated with output ratios relative to a maximum output, wherein an output ratio associated with the left and right peripheral electric motors is greater than an output ratio associated with the at least one central motor.

A system for controlling a watercraft comprising:

• at least one central motor;
• a left peripheral motor on a port side of the watercraft relative to the at least one central motor;
• a right peripheral motor on a starboard side of the watercraft relative to the at least one central motor;
• a joystick unit comprising a joystick configured to be tiltable in a plurality of directions, wherein the joystick unit is configured to output joystick position signals responsive to tilting of the joystick in the plurality of directions, wherein the joystick position signals are configured to control movement of the watercraft;
• and
• a controller communicating with the joystick unit to receive at least the outputted joystick position signals from the joystick unit and communicating with the left and right peripheral electric motors, and the at least one central motor to provide at least control instructions to control a magnitude and a direction of a thrust generated by each of at least one of the left and right peripheral motors and the at least one central motor;
• wherein:
• the controller selectably provides the control instructions to the at least one central motor in preference to the left and right peripheral motors responsive to receipt of joystick position signals from the joystick unit during a first specified control mode;
• the controller selectably provides the control instructions to the left and right peripheral electric motors and the at least one central motor responsive to receipt of joystick position signals from the joystick unit during a third specified control mode,
• wherein in the third control mode, the control instructions to the left and right peripheral electric motors and the at least one central motor are associated with individual output ratios relative to a maximum output of each motor, wherein an output ratio associated with the left and right peripheral electric motors is greater than an output ratio associated with the at least one central motor;
• and
• a steering angle range of each of the left peripheral motor and the right peripheral motor is greater than a steering angle range of the at least one central motor, or the maximum output thrust of each of the left peripheral electric motor and the right peripheral electric motor is lower than the maximum output thrust of the central motor.